'File 8/62 IV PRINCIPAL SHAIKHS & TRIBES OF OMAN.' [‎7r] (13/282)

Brief narrative of events to show how the office of
Imam of Oman ceased to be vested in the person of
the Ruler of Muscat and Oman and the relations
existing between them at the present time ( 1951 )®
Until 1793 the Rulers of Muscat and Oman were elected,
and their capital was maintained at Kostaq in the interior
-until 1783o Thereafter it was transferred to the coast at
Muscat, as a result of which much of the control over the
tribes of the interior was lost 0 Following the usurpation
of power by Saiyid Sultan in 1793> and abandonment of the
formality of election of the rulers
thereafter, the tribes of the interior began to regard the
Rulers as usurpers, and a series of rebellions took place
between 1829 and 1867 , culminating in seizure of power by
a junior branch of the ruling family, supported by some of
the tribeSn He was however overthrown in 1871? hy the
legitimate branch* Thereafter numerous attempts to dislodge
the Sultans were made by the Omani tribes, whoso feelings were
further incensed by the stoppage of the arms and the slave
traffic.^ both of which are permitted by Islam, at the
instigation of the Christian Powers* These culminated in a
carefully organised rebellion in 191 * 3 ©
In fulfilment of a guarantee given to the Sultan in
1895s which was also communicated to the Shaikhs of Oman,
British military assistance was provided and a crushing
defeat was inflicted upon the tribal forces which in uanuary
1915 attacked the British outposts at Bait al Falaj,
stationed there for the protection of Muscat* By 1916, howeve
the rebel tribes had obtained complete control of the interior
known as Oman proper, and had established a government in it
under their own Imam* They would undoubtedly have taken
Muscat and all the coastal towns had it not been for the
Military and Naval assistance which the British Government
were ready to afford, and also financial and other assistance
supplied to restore an} improve the Administratioru
In the end only after several attempts by the British
Political authorities to effect a reconciliation, and after
a further demonstration of force and economic pressure and
the murder of the Imam by his tribes, was the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency.
of the $ime able to promote further negotiations which, on
the 25 th September 1920, terminated in the signing of an
agreement.- known since as the Treaty of Sib 0
Under the terms of this agreement the Sultan undertook
not to interfere in the internal affairs of the tribes; not
to impose more than 5 °* taxation on their produce brought
into the coastal towns; to allow members of the tribes to
come and go freely and to return fugitive criminals 0
In return the tribes agreed to remain in peace and
friendship with the Sultan, not to interfere with his
government or to attack the coastal towns; not to impose
any restrictions on trade; to permit travellers to pass
freely; to turn out fugitive criminals and to dispose of
all claims in accordance with the Shara law#